Gallery

(BaseballStL) -- The Cardinals announced today they acquired reliever John Axford from the Brewers in exchange for a player to be named later.

Axford joins a young bullpen which has relied on the arms of Trevor Rosenthal, Seth Maness and Kevin Siegrist in the second half of the season.

Axford has been a far cry from the pitcher that posted a 46-save campaign in 2011. After posting a 1.1 WHIP and 1.95 ERA that season, Axford struggled in 2012.

Though he struck out 93 batters in just 69.1 innings, he gave up a career-high 36 earned runs. So far in 2013, Axford has been more 2012 than 2011, striking out 54 and giving up 27 earned runs in 54.2 innings.